End-gate latch



Api. 3, 1923 1,450,365 .1. M. GRAY END GATE LATCH Filed Mar. 2o, 1922 JLM/i Gray;

@f Ri/Wein,

. price.

Patented Apr. 3, 19,23.

:rosErH M. GRAY, OE BRowNsrowN, INDIANNRSSIGNOR OE ONELTHrRn To. rosErrr M. ROBERTSON AND yONE-'.LHIRD To MARTIN P. REERRER, Born or E RowNsrOWN,

INDIANA.

END-GATE LATCH.

Application ined March 2o, 1922. Yserial No. 545,254.'

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

' Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. G RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing 1n Brownstown, in the county of Jackson,`

State of Indiana, have invented new 'and useful Improvements in End-Gate Latches, ofl which the following is a clear and eX- plicit exposition and explanation, being such as will enable a mechanic vto construct the same with precision The object of this invention, broadly stated, yis the provision of securing latches which will be strong and durable in construction, leasily Operated and controlled, positive in action, and which 'can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low More particularly' stated, my object is to provide latches which are especially appli-` cable to securing end-gates in vehicles, and for various other purposes for which it may be found applicable and for which it is particularly adapted.

The manner of applying this invention is shown most clearly'. in a companion applicationY for end gates, led March 20, 1922, Serial No. 545,263,

The preferred means for carrying out the objects of this invention in a mechanical manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, iny which-Figure 1 shows two of my latches, as employed in connection with an end gate of a vehicle. Figure 2 is a top plan O one of the latches, showing the same in closed or securing position; and Figure is a top plan view showing the same in open or in unsecuring position.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

I will now take up the description of my invention in detail, and will set forth the several features thereof as fully yand as clearly as I may.

In the drawings letter A -denotes an endgate or the like whose upper portion is normallyk suspended upon the hooks B and C which extend through slots in the upper portion of the end gate.

Extending'through slots in the lower portion of the end gate, and at the ends thereof, vare the shackles Dv and E, each shackle having an eye therethrough, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

In this instance I have shown two of my latches in connection with a single end gate, but the latches may be used s1 ngly,'and as they are identical with eachother I will de-v 4scribe butone, t-he other being denotedby like reference characters.

Numeral 1 denotes'the base plate, which' issubstantially square andthe central portion` thereotx being offset outward to space it slightly yfrom the surface to which kthe plate maybe attached. f f

Said plate is ysecured 'to theface of the gate A by means of afplurality or' rivets,

screws, or bolts,f2.

Numeral 3 denotes the hinge plate, 'the' same being secured to the center of the 'plate 1 by the rivets or-Ithe like 4. Extending' outward from lone end of the .platey 3 isA -a *di pair of spaced apart ears 5, to receive therebetween v the end portion kof the shank 5, which is pivotally mountedtherebetween on thepivotbolt.` v y 1. rlhe Otherend of the shank 5 isinte'gralliY connected .with the.loop.handle 7, by-vvhich `r latter the latch may be manually operated;l

, Numeral 8 denotes the fork which spans the central portion of `the shank 5, whereY it is pivotedly connectedA'b-y the pivot bolt 9.

Numeral 10 denotes the plunger, lwhich is integrally connected at one end with the fork 8, the other end being rounded and adaptedy to enter the eye ofthe shackle D, or the'- shackle E.

Numeralll denotes a guide bracketl'or 'i lbearing which is secured by the screws or rivets 12 to the face ofthe gateA, and in i' alinement with said plunger, there being an aperture therethrough in germay freely operate; v

Integral with and surroundin the plunger 10 .is they shoulder lug 13. f same diameter as said shoulder lug, and contacting therewith, and surrounding the plunger 10,y

is .the collar 14.

Surrounding the plunger 10'is the'helical spring 15, with its ends contacting, under pressure, with the collar 14. and` the bracket 11.` l

Numeral 16 denotes a stop lug which projects from the shank 5 and it is adapted to contactv with the plate 3, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to limit the movement of the which the plunp handle 7, whereby said handle `will be prevented from being forced by the spring l5 back into contact with the plate l, but causing it to stand out as shown in Fig. 3.

Extending out from the plunger l0 is a linger 17 which, when the handle 7 is turned outward enters a slot 18 in the base portion ot the handle, there being a hole 1,9 :formed through the projecting portion oi' the finger in which may be secured a pin 20, or a padlock (not shown) may be employed in place of said pin, or the pin and padlock may both be dispensed with ordinarily.

From the above it will be seen that the latch is ecceutricallyf mounted and whereby it the latch be closed, as in Fig. 2 and at the left in Fig. l, that the tree end oi' the plunger will be driven` outward and through the eye of its shackle, thereby accomplishing the rnain purpose ot the latch. And as the pivot bolt 25' has, in said position, passed inward, that is nearer to the gate fr, than the pivot 6, it is therefore apparent that the spring 15 will tend to hold the latch in closed position, as in Fig. 2.

Should it now be desired to open the latch then one has only to grasp the handle T and swing it over to its limit, that is to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, and at the right in Fig. l, by which last movement the free end of the plunger will be withdrawn from the eye of the shackle, and as the pivot bolt 9, in said position, has passed outward, that is farther away from the gate A. than the pivot 6, it is therefore apparent that the spring l5 will tend to hold the lat-ch in open position, las in Fig. 3.

By the above it will be seen that the spring will cause the latch to always be positively in open or in closed position, and there will be no danger of it inadvertently working from one to the other of said positions, and neither will there be any danger of rattling or' the parts by vibration.

l desire that it be understood. that various changes may be made in the several details herein shown and described without departing troni the spirit ot' the invention and without sacrificing any or' the advantages thereof which are new and useful.

lflaving now fully shown and described my inventiomwhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot' the VUnited States, is-

l. A latch device comprising a shank piroted at one end, ahandle carried by the other end of the shank, a. fork striding the central portion or.' the shank and pivoted thereto, a` plunger integral with said rfork, a shoulder on said plunger, a guidebracket through which the plunger may operate, a spring surrounding the plunger. and pressing upon said shoulder andthe guide bracket,

andmeans tor limiting the outward swing of the handle, all substantially as shown and described.

2. ln combination with a gate or the like, a latch comprising a base plateadapted to be secured to the tace of the gate, ahinge plate mounted on the base plate, a shank pveted at one end to said hinge plate, a handle integral with the other end of said shank, a. plunger pivoted to the central portion of said shank, a guideibracket secured to the face of the gate andthrough which lthe outer portion of the plunger is operative, a shoulder on said plunger, and a helical spring surrounding the plunger andseated against said shoulder and the guide-bracket, all substantially as shown and'described.

JOSEPH M. GRAY.v 

